Students of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila protested on campus on May 28 and 29 to denounce intensifying repression, harassment and red-tagging within the university. Three UST students received “notice to explain” letters from the Student Welfare and Development Committee of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters on May 20 in connection with their activism.
The summons stem from a complaint filed by UST professor Marlon Villarin, MPA, a follower of the military-backed National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac. Villarin filed a 50-page complaint against activists Raven Racelis, Ray Manuel, and Kerby Calizar, accusing them of violating university rules. The three are members of Kabataan Party-list (KPL) UST Artlets.
The complaint followed UST students’ militant and brave stance against the presence of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and NTF-Elcac personnel on campus. Students, particularly Racelis, criticized and confronted NTF-Elcac personnel at the NTF-Elcac forum “Preventing Terror Grooming: The Philippine Experience” in November 2025, the Philippine Air Force exhibit on campus, and remarks by Department of National Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro in April.
Progressive groups at UST say the renewed attacks violate academic freedom and reflect systematic repression on campus. They assert that using intellectual knowledge to uphold the people’s interests is not wrong.
KPL UST Artlets chair Manuel said the administration faces a simple question: “why is it so easy for state forces to carry out activities on campus, while students are blocked by so many bureaucratic processes and unfair rules.” He said the campus clearly has no adequate democratic space if simple study of society cannot be done without being blocked and driven out.
The students did not flinch at the complaints. “Neither a professor nor a national defense secretary will make me back down from fear. Use all your power and connections if you must, we know we are right, and we will continue to stand firm,” Racelis said.
She added that attempts to silence students only push them to find their own voice. “We proved we speak for real change. And every attempt to suppress this further clearifies who stands for justice and who clings to a system that refuses to change,” Racelis added.
KPL UST Artlets and progressive college groups are pushing five demands. They call for: 1. sever all ties between UST and NTF-Elcac and other fascist institutions; 2. a magna carta for college students; 3. revision of the student handbook; 4. the dismissal of instructor Villarin and accountability for red-tagging; and 5. the junking of all anti-student complaints against the three activists.
The national office of Kabataan Partylist expressed support for its members. The party condemned the use of university rules to suppress and silence students. According to the party, the youth’s fulfillment of their duty as the nation’s hope requires their critical scrutiny of Philippine society, and struggle for justice, accountability, and real democracy.
